49ers say newly laid field 'will be perfect' for Sunday

New sod laid just 2 days before game on Sunday

Updated 11:43 pm, Friday, August 22, 2014

Photo: Steve Hung, Associated Press

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In this Aug. 21, 2014 photo released by Steve Hung, the field at Levi's Stadium is shown removed in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers re-sodded the field at Levi's Stadium from goal line to goal line and sideline to sideline with longer grass Friday, Aug. 22, and they expect no problems for Sunday's preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. (AP Photo/Steve Hung) less

In this Aug. 21, 2014 photo released by Steve Hung, the field at Levi's Stadium is shown removed in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers re-sodded the field at Levi's Stadium from goal line to goal line ... more

Photo: Steve Hung, Associated Press

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While new sod is being laid, it will be replaced at some point in the near future - perhaps shortly after Sunday's game.

While new sod is being laid, it will be replaced at some point in the near future - perhaps shortly after Sunday's game.

Photo: Steve Hung, Associated Press

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Above, 49ers backup quarterback Josh Johnson kicks up sod on the Levi's Stadium field while being pressured by Broncos linebacker Jerrell Harris during the fourth quarter of Sunday's exhibition game.

Above, 49ers backup quarterback Josh Johnson kicks up sod on the Levi's Stadium field while being pressured by Broncos linebacker Jerrell Harris during the fourth quarter of Sunday's exhibition game.

After he fielded seven questions relating to the field surface at Levi's Stadium in the course of a 62-second interview Friday, 49ers rookie wide receiver Bruce Ellington walked away from the media scrum smiling.

"I never did an interview about grass before," he said.

Yes, sod was still a popular topic two days after the 49ers ended their practice at Levi's Stadium prematurely because of poor field conditions.

And because the topic wasn't going away, a high-ranking 49ers official, Chief Operating Officer Al Guido, met with the media Friday to discuss the issues that plagued the original field and how the franchise plans to ensure it won't happen again.

For starters, the 49ers aren't sure why the grass was so badly damaged after the first football game at the stadium Sunday, followed by an hour of practice Wednesday. They are consulting with the NFL and West Coast Turf, which provides their sod, to investigate the potential issues. They have sent soil samples to a laboratory for analysis.

"Right now between the thickness of the sod, between the soil, all those things are being looked at," Guido said. "I can't pinpoint to one thing right now and say this is the exact issue. ... We're getting very, very close to the final solution. Obviously, we're very comfortable, including the league, playing a game on this field. This field will be perfect for the game Sunday."

The 49ers are re-sodding the entire field, with the exception of the end zones and out-of-bounds sideline areas, for their game Sunday against the Chargers. The sod arrived at 4 a.m. Friday and was still being installed when Guido spoke in the afternoon. The organization is expected to eventually remove that sod and lay down a more permanent surface.

That could happen in a nearly two-week window between Sunday's game and a Mexico vs. Chile soccer match on Sept. 6.

The 49ers have postponed a high-school football doubleheader scheduled for Friday. The four teams originally involved will play at the stadium in October: Santa Clara vs. Wilcox-Santa Clara and Elk Grove vs. Jesuit-Sacramento on Oct. 10 and Oakdale vs. Manteca and James Logan-Union City vs. De La Salle-Concord on Oct. 11.

The team said Friday that tickets purchased for the postponed doubleheader can be exchanged for tickets to both October pairings or can be turned in for a refund. The original matchups - Wilcox-Manteca and Jesuit-De La Salle - will still be played next week; the respective schools should be contacted for more information.

Guido said the 49ers aren't seriously considering installing artificial turf at the stadium.

"We feel very comfortable we can maintain great grass in this climate," he said.

Earlier, head coach Jim Harbaugh quickly tired of the topic when his news conference opened with nine grass-related questions. On three occasions he said the decision to install a new surface for Sunday's game was an example of the 49ers doing things at "the highest level."

"We are getting a new field in," Harbaugh said. "It will be in there for Sunday. It will be very good for this week. Our organization will always do things at the highest level."

After Ellington and wide receiver Stevie Johnson fell and came up limping during the practice at Levi's Stadium on Wednesday, safety was a popular topic. That is, are players concerned about playing on an unfamiliar surface Sunday?

"When you do that, that's when you get hurt," running back LaMichael James said. "I'm not really buying into that. I'm just going to go out there and play, regardless if it's played on concrete."

For his part, placekicker Phil Dawson, who declined to say if the surface contributed to his two missed field goals in a 34-0 loss to the Broncos on Sunday, is eager to test the new turf.

"I support the organization's decision to address the issue," he said. "And I'm excited to see this new field that they're rolling out literally at the last minute."

In light of that quick turnaround, Guido was asked if the 49ers had a contingency plan in case issues arose when putting the new field in place.

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